Niagara Parks Butterflies

Janet Arnett is the former campus manager of adult education at Ontario’s Georgian College. She is the author of Antiques and Collectibles: Starting Small, The Grange at Knock, and 673 Ways to Save Money.

Thirty spectacular species are presented in text and full-color photos
in this introduction to one of Ontario’s newest and most unusual
tourist attractions, the butterfly conservatory at Niagara Falls.

The dramatic colors of these “pretty bugs” lure the browser into
the book, whereupon environmental reporter Brian McAndrew takes over
with a crisp, well-written text on the conservatory, its inhabitants,
and the structures in place to support them.

We are introduced to the inhabitants (there are 60 species of
butterflies from around the world at the conservatory); the unusual
building in which they’re housed (designed to meet butterfly habitat
needs as well as make viewing possible); the behind-the-scenes work of
importing pupae, as well as pest and disease control; and the
neverending task of supplying enough of the right vegetation for the
ever-munching caterpillars.

Simon Wilson’s close-up shots of the 30 species—the core of the
work—are supported by a dozen photos of the key trees and plants that
fill the conservatory, plus at least another two-dozen shots of the
building, staff at work, and so forth. There is also material on
planning and growing a butterfly garden to attract native species.

Although mainly a souvenir of the conservatory, this lovely book is
sufficiently informative to be of interest to homeowners who wish to
attract butterflies to their gardens, and to amateur naturalists.